Filling element and filling machine for filling bottles or similar containers

ABSTRACT

A filling element for filling a container includes a liquid channel configured in a filling element housing, a connector or inlet for feeding the liquid into the channel, a discharge opening for discharging the liquid into the container, and a liquid valve that controls liquid discharge into the container. The liquid valve is arranged in the channel and includes a valve seat and valve body movable to open and close the valve to engage the seat, and an insert configured as a swirl body or gas barrier. The insert is arranged, relative to a flow direction, upstream of the seat and is fixed in position in the channel so that it remains stationary relative to the valve body during opening and closing of the liquid valve.

The invention relates to a filling element according to the preamble ofclaim 1, to an insert for use with filling elements according to thepreamble of claim 8 and to a filling machine according to the preambleof claim 10. Filling elements for the filling of bottles or similarcontainers are known in a variety of embodiments, in particular in anembodiment having the features of the preamble of claim 1, i.e. havingan insert that acts as a gas barrier and/or swirl body for the fillingmaterial and that is located in the liquid channel in the direction offlow of the filling material upstream of the valve seat of the liquidvalve to improve the filling material flow when the liquid valve is openor during the filling phase (EP 1 593 648 B1, EP 0 546 346 A1, DE 41 40524 A1). What this prior art has in common is that the respective insertmoves with the liquid valve when the latter opens and closes, thishaving among other things the disadvantage that when the liquid valvecloses, a motion component or acceleration in the direction of thedischarge opening, and additionally amplified by the insert, is impartedto the volume of the liquid filling material that is present at thistime between the discharge opening and the valve body or insert. Thisthen means an increased residual volume that is additionally introducedinto the respective already filled container with increased motionenergy and which in the case of a carbonated filling material inparticular leads to an agitation of the filling material in thecontainer with a consequential release of CO2 gas and an additionalfrothing.

The object of the invention is to disclose a filling element whichavoids the disadvantages of known filling elements while retaining thefundamental advantages of an insert embodied as and/or acting as a gasbarrier and/or swirl body.

A filling element according to patent claim 1 is configured to resolvethis object. An insert for use with filling elements is thesubject-matter of claim 8. A filling machine for filling bottles orsimilar containers is the subject-matter of claim 10.

Surprisingly it has been found that the inventive embodiment cansignificantly enhance the properties of a filling element, in particularalso as regards reducing the size and velocity or acceleration of theresidual or overrun volume that is still being introduced into therespective container during the closing of the liquid valve.

Further embodiments, advantages and possible applications of theinvention arise out of the following description of embodiments and outof the figures. All of the described and/or pictorially representedattributes whether alone or in any desired combination are fundamentallythe subject matter of the invention independently of their synopsis inthe claims or a retroactive application thereof. The content of theclaims is also made an integral part of the description.

The invention is explained in detail below through the use of anembodiment example with reference to the figures.

FIG. 1 shows in simplified partial representation and in cross-section afilling element according to the invention for filling containers orbottles with a liquid product or filling material;

FIG. 2 shows an enlarged partial cross-section through the fillingelement of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4 each show in perspective representation and from below(FIG. 3) and above (FIG. 4) a ring-shaped insert for use with thefilling element shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIGS. 5 and 6 show the insert of FIGS. 3 and 4 in side view and in planview.

The filling valve shown in FIG. 1 in which it is generally indicated by1 forms part of a filling system exhibiting a plurality of such valves,for example of the filling system of a rotary-type filling machine inwhich filling elements 1 are provided, in the manner known to theskilled person, on the periphery of a rotor which can be driven torotate about a vertical machine axis. Filling element 1 comprises amongother things a multisection filling element housing 2 in which a liquidchannel 3 for the liquid filling material is embodied, specifically byway of a recess 3.1 in housing 2. In the region of its upper end, liquidchannel 3 is connected by a connector or inlet 4 with a line or tank forfeeding the liquid filling material and in the region of its lower endor at the base of filling element housing 2, i.e. at a conicallynarrowing section of recess 3.1, forms an annular discharge opening 5which concentrically encircles a vertical filling element axis FA andthrough which the liquid filling material flows to the respectivecontainer during the filling (filling phase).

During filling, in particular pressure filling, the respective containeris in sealed position against filling element 1, i.e. it lies with itsmouth edge or mouth bead, which surrounds the container mouth, against aseal 6 provided at the base of the filling element housing and whichannularly encircles discharge opening 5 and which in the depictedembodiment forms part of a centering tulip 7 for centering therespective container relative to filling element 1.

On the same axis as filling element axis FA is provided a valve tube orgas tube 8 which projects downwards by its lower open gas tube end 8.1beyond discharge opening 5 and ring seal 6, extends over part of itslength through liquid channel 3 and which at the top of liquid channel 8[sic] is guided out of liquid channel 3 sealed by means of a seal 9configured for example as a membrane.

On the same axis as filling element axis FA is further provided arod-like probe 10 which determines the fill level during filling of therespective container, which extends through gas tube 8 and whose lowerprobe end projects out of the lower open gas tube end 8.1 forming anannular gas channel 11 (return gas channel) encircling probe 10 insidegas tube 8. This gas channel 11 is open at lower gas tube end 8.1 and atthe upper end of gas tube 8 opens out into a chamber 12 which like gaschannel 11 is part of the gas paths of filling element 1 which controlthe respective filling process in the manner also known to the skilledperson.

In liquid channel 3 there is provided a liquid valve 13 which is openedand closed for the controlled dispensing of the liquid filling materialas a function among other things of the signal of probe 10. For liquidvalve 13, gas tube 8 is configured, over a lower partial length which isrelatively short and accommodated in liquid channel 3, as valve body 14which engages with a valve seat 15 which is formed on the conicalinterior surface 16 of the tapering lower section of recess 3.1. For theopening and closing of liquid valve 13, gas tube 8 can be moved up anddown in a controlled fashion in the manner of a valve stem in thedirection of axis FA by a for example pneumatic actuating device 17(double arrow A). Valve body 14 is executed with a section having acircular-cylindrical peripheral surface which concentrically enclosesfilling element axis FA.

The filling of the respective container with filling element 1 iseffected with a filling method known to the skilled person, for examplewith a pressure or counter-pressure filling method in which thecontainer present in sealed position against the filling element—forexample after a pre-evacuating and/or purging with inert gas (CO2gas)—is pre-stressed, pressure-filled and at the end of the fillingprocess at least partially let down to ambient pressure by gas channel11.

A particular feature of filling element 1 is in the insert generallyindicated by 18 in the figures and shown in detail in FIGS. 3-6, andwhich acts as a gas barrier as well as a swirl body. Insert 18 isarranged in liquid channel 3, specifically in the lower conicallynarrowing section of recess 3.1 which forms liquid channel 3, and isfixed in position, i.e. it does not move with valve body 14 during theopening and closing of liquid valve 13. In the depicted embodiment,insert 18 lies among other things against conical interior surface 16,specifically on a region upstream of valve seat 15 relative to thedirection of flow of the liquid filling material, and so that insert 18is inside that part of liquid channel 3 which when liquid valve 13 isclosed is separated by said valve from discharge opening 5.

As depicted in particular in FIGS. 3-6, insert 18 is manufactured as ashaped body from a suitable material, for example from a suitableplastic and/or metal, specifically for example as a single piece havingan annular ring section 19 and having a plurality of blades orblade-like wall sections 20 which in the depicted embodiment are eachidentically formed and which, interspaced and distributed at equalintervals about the periphery of ring section 19 or about axis EA ofinsert 18, project away both beyond the underside of ring section 19 andbeyond its outer periphery. Wall sections 20 form a bladed structure 21and in the depicted embodiment are oriented such that the planes of thesurface sides of wall sections 20 are each parallel with axis EA, wallsections 20 however each standing away in the same direction obliquelyfrom the periphery of ring section 19 so that each wall section 20 formsan angle of less than 90°, for example an angle of approximately 45-60°,with a notional tangent to that peripheral region of ring section 19 onwhich the wall section 20 concerned merges into ring section 19.

Insert 18 is moreover shaped so that ring section 19 is proud by apart-region 19.1 of the top of bladed structure 21 which on theunderside of insert 18 forms a conical outer contour following the lineof tapered surface 16 and on the periphery of insert 18 forms acircular-cylindrical outer contour concentrically encircling axis EA andfollowing the circular-cylindrical cross-section of recess 3.1. Likewall sections 20, bladed structure 21 is also proud of the underside ofring section 19. In between interspaced wall sections 20, bladedstructure 21 forms a plurality of flow channels which are open on theperiphery and on the underside of annular insert 18 as well as on thetop and inside of annular insert 18 (outside ring section 19).

In detail, insert 18 is inserted in recess 3.1 forming liquid channel 3in such a way that bladed structure 21 lies with its conical undersideagainst surface 16 and with its periphery against the interior surfaceof recess 3.1 in front of the conically narrowing section of thisrecess, as shown in FIG. 2. Axis EA is arranged on the same axis asfilling element axis FA. By its section which has thecircular-cylindrical peripheral surface concentrically encirclingfilling element axis FA, valve body 14 extends into insert 18 whoseinside ring diameter follows the outside diameter of valve body 14,valve body 14 being for example guided in ring section 19 of insert 18.When liquid valve 13 is in its open state as shown in FIG. 2 therefore,liquid filling material flows out of liquid channel 3 only, or almostonly, through the flow channels of insert 18 to discharge opening 5. Inthe process, the described embodiment of insert 18 imparts to thefilling material a swirl having a swirl moment about filling elementaxis FM [sic] such that the liquid filling material flows to thecontainer held in sealed position against filling element 1 along itsinner container surface, and the volume of air and/or gas and/or vapourdisplaced from the container by the filling material can be dischargedsmoothly as return gas via gas channel 11, furthermore avoiding apremature wetting of probe 10 with the liquid filling material beforethe desired fill level is reached.

Surprisingly it has also been found that the residual volume of fillingmaterial which is accelerated by valve body 14 which moves as liquidvalve 13 closes is significantly reduced through the use of insert 18and especially through its non-moving arrangement. This is due amongother things to the fact that when liquid valve 13 is open, the liquidfilling material leaving the flow channels of bladed structure 21 flowsfrom the side into the part of liquid channel 3 which is located beneathopened valve body 14 and which opens into discharge opening 5, and thatthe filling material stream leaving the flow channels of bladedstructure 21 is therefore interrupted by valve body 14 moving square tothe direction of flow as liquid valve 13 closes.

The beneficial effects which are achieved with fixed insert 18 areparticularly marked when wall sections 20 which form bladed structure 21are as closely adjacent to one another as possible with their edges ornarrow sides of a circular-cylindrical plane of motion lying on theinside relative to axis EA and preferably oriented parallel to thataxis, in which (plane) that section of valve body 14 which has thecircular-cylindrical peripheral surface moves, so that at least whenliquid valve 13 is open the entire flow cross-section of the flowchannels formed between wall sections 20 of insert 18 is essentiallygreater than the flow cross-section of a gap which may exist between theperipheral surface of valve body 14 and the interior surface of insert18. The distance of the inside edges or narrow sides of wall sections 20from this plane of motion is preferably no more than 0.5 mm. During theclosing of liquid valve 13 therefore the radially inside dischargeopenings of the flow channels formed between wall sections 20 areoccluded increasingly and tightly, or at least to the greatest possibleextent tightly, by valve body 14. Moreover the inside edges or narrowsides of wall sections 20 are arranged for example on a common notionalcircular-cylindrical surface which is then preferably also thecircular-cylindrical surface of the inside of ring section 19.

The invention has been described hereinbefore by reference to oneembodiment. It goes without saying that numerous variations as well asmodifications are possible without departing from the inventive conceptunderlying the invention.

It is for example of particular benefit if a gas barrier is used inconjunction with a restricting of the return gas flow. Surprisingly aconsiderable improvement in the fill level accuracy of the filledcontainers comes about when such a method is applied. There is inparticular a significant reduction in the standard deviation of themeasured actual fill levels.

According to the current level of knowledge, restricting the return gasmakes for a more even inflow of the filling material into the container,or a more even, i.e. more turbulence-free, flowing of the fillingmaterial through the gas barrier. As a result of these improved flowconditions, the (after-flowing) filling material is arrested almostimmediately and almost completely by the gas barrier at the instant whenthe desired fill level is reached. The quantity of filling materialstill flowing after the desired fill level is reached is at any ratesignificantly reduced.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

-   1 Filling element-   2 Filling element housing-   3 Liquid channel-   4 Connector or inlet-   5 Discharge opening-   6 Seal-   7 Centering tulip-   8 Gas tube-   8.1 Lower gas tube end-   9 Seal-   10 Probe-   11 Gas channel-   12 Chamber-   13 Liquid valve-   14 Valve body-   15 Valve seat-   16 Tapered interior surface-   17 Actuating device-   18 Insert-   19 Ring section-   19.1 Part-region-   20 Bladed or wall section-   21 Bladed structure-   A Lift of the valve body 14-   FA Filling element axis-   EA Axis of insert 18

1-12. (canceled)
 13. An apparatus comprising a filling element forfilling a container with a filling material, said filling elementcomprising a liquid channel configured in a filling element housing, oneof a connector and an inlet for feeding said liquid filling materialinto said liquid channel, a discharge opening for discharging saidliquid filling material into said container, a liquid valve thatcontrols discharge of said liquid filling material into said container,said liquid valve being arranged in said liquid channel and comprising avalve seat and a valve body movable to open and close said liquid valveand engaging said valve seat, an insert configured as one of a swirlbody and a gas barrier, said insert being arranged, relative to adirection of flow of said liquid filling material, upstream of saidvalve seat of said liquid valve, wherein said insert is fixed inposition in said liquid channel and remains stationary relative to saidvalve body during opening and closing of said liquid valve.
 14. Theapparatus of claim 13, wherein said insert is configured to annularlyencircle a filling element axis of said filling element.
 15. Theapparatus of claim 13, wherein said insert encircles said valve body ofsaid liquid valve on an at least partially circular-cylindricallyconfigured peripheral valve body surface in at least one of a closedstate of said liquid valve and an open state of said liquid valve. 16.The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said insert forms a plurality of flowchannels for said liquid filling material, said flow channels having anentire flow cross-section, and wherein, in at least one of a closedstate of said liquid valve and an open state of said liquid valve, saidvalve body being rendered contiguous with said insert by a peripheralvalve body surface thereof in such a way that, when said liquid valve isin an open state, said entire flow cross-section of said flow channelsof said insert is greater than a flow cross-section of a gap betweensaid outer surface of said valve body surface and said insert.
 17. Theapparatus of claim 16, wherein said insert comprises a bladed structureformed by at least one of a plurality of blades and wall sections thatare spaced apart from one another, that form said flow channels, andthat are oriented parallel to a filling element axis of said fillingelement.
 18. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said insert comprises abladed structure formed by at least one of a plurality of blades andwall sections that are spaced apart from one another, that form saidflow channels, and that are angled in a common direction relative to anotional circular-cylindrical surface concentrically encircling afilling element axis of said filling element.
 19. The apparatus of claim13, wherein said insert comprises a bladed structure formed by at leastone of a plurality of blades and wall sections that are spaced apartfrom one another, that form flow channels of said insert, and that areangled in a common direction at an angle of less than 90 degreesrelative to a notional circular-cylindrical surface concentricallyencircling a filling element axis of said filling element.
 20. Theapparatus of claim 16, wherein at least one of said insert, aconstituent bladed structure of said insert, and a constituent wallsection of said bladed structure extends as far one of an area ofmovement of said valve body, a circular-cylindrical plane of motion of aperipheral valve body surface, and a distance from said plane of motionof less than 0.5 mm.
 21. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said insertcomprises an annular section that concentrically encircles a fillingelement axis of said filling element and on which one of blades and wallsections forming a bladed structure are held, and wherein at least oneof said bladed structure, said blades, and said wall sections areprovided on one of an underside and a periphery of said annular section.22. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a gas restrictor in agas path of a return gas.
 23. An apparatus comprising an insert for usewith a filling element for containers with a liquid product, whereinsaid insert is formed as a shaped part comprising an annular ringsection concentrically encircling an axis of said insert and a bladedstructure held on said annular ring section and comprising one ofinterspaced blades and wall sections, and wherein said bladed structureand at least one of said interspaced blades and wall sections isprovided both on an underside and on a periphery of said annular ringsection.
 24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said one of blades andwall sections forming said bladed structure are oriented with surfacesides thereof being parallel to an axis of said insert.
 25. Theapparatus of claim 23, wherein said one of blades and wall sectionsforming said bladed structure are angled in a common direction relativeto a notional plane of rotation.
 26. The apparatus of claim 23, whereinsaid one of blades and wall sections forming said bladed structure areangled in a common direction relative to a circular-cylindrical surfaceconcentrically encircling an axis of said insert.
 27. The apparatus ofclaim 13, further comprising a rotating rotor, wherein a plurality ofsaid filling elements is provided on said rotating rotor, said rotatingrotor and said filling elements being constituent elements of a fillingmachine for filling containers.
 28. A method for operating a fillingelement for filling a container with a filling material, filling elementcomprising a liquid channel configured in a filling element housing, oneof a connector and an inlet for feeding said liquid filling materialinto said liquid channel, a discharge opening for discharging saidliquid filling material into said container, a liquid valve thatcontrols discharge of said liquid filling material into said container,said liquid valve being arranged in said liquid channel and comprising avalve seat and a valve body movable to open and close said liquid valveand engaging said valve seat, an insert configured as one of a swirlbody and a gas barrier, said insert being arranged, relative to adirection of flow of said liquid filling material, upstream of saidvalve seat of said liquid valve, wherein said insert is fixed inposition in said liquid channel and remains stationary relative to saidvalve body during opening and closing of said liquid valve, said methodcomprising restricting return gas flow by way of at least one gasrestrictor in a gas path of said return gas.